HPD: Women's plot to get cheap gas had one flaw

By Robert Stanton |
December 19, 2012
| Updated: December 19, 2012 9:55pm

Authorities are looking for two women who engaged in an elaborate plot to steal gasoline from a Clear Lake area service station where one worked, Harris County prosecutors said.

Maria Guadalupe Hernandez, 36, of Pasadena, and Luz Elena Juarez, 31, of Alvin, are each charged with burglary of a building in connection with the Aug. 10 theft at the Shell station at 1190 Clear Lake City Blvd., records show.

Investigators said the women and a third person pulled into the parking lot of the business about 5 a.m. and parked at three gas pumps, according to an arrest warrant filed this week.

Hernandez used her keys to enter the store, where she punched in her code to turn off the alarm, police said.

Meanwhile, Juarez, who used to work there, accessed the computer to change the gas price from the day's current price of $3.59 a gallon to $1.99 a gallon and turned on the gas pumps, the arrest warrant states.

Police said the three filled up the vehicles, taking 34.98 gallons of gasoline at a total cost $129.15 at the day's current rate.

Hernandez also accessed the safe beneath the cash register, taking $78 in cash, according to the arrest warrant.

Juarez selected a case of Bud Light, changed the gas prices back to the current price, turned on the alarm and locked the door as she left, investigators said. The beer was valued at $24.99. The three then left, police said.

About an hour later, a store employee arrived and noticed the safe was $78 short from the previous night's count. She reviewed the store videotape and identified the women. The third suspect has not been identified.

Anyone with information should call police at 713-308-3200 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.